Byron Donalds takes Florida governorship with 1.5 point edge

Byron Donalds will serve as Florida’s next governor, with the Associated Press calling the race as he led Democrat David Jolly by approximately 1.5 percentage points. The result makes Donalds the state’s first Black governor. Most votes had been counted at the time of the projection.

Donalds, a U.S. Representative and Republican, defeated Jolly in a contest that saw the two candidates split the vote. Jolly conceded the race at the Tampa Convention Center on Tuesday. In a speech to supporters, he noted that securing 48 or 49 percent of the vote in a state where his party holds only 29 percent of voters signals the emergence of a new coalition. He described the night as a moment where national attention turned to Florida because something special had happened.

The political landscape in Florida shifted since 2022, when Governor Ron DeSantis won reelection by more than 19 points. Donalds campaigned on making the state more affordable by reducing property taxes and streamlining development permits. He also proposed removing certain insurance premium surcharges. His platform included calls for strong immigration enforcement and greater transparency in government spending. He held a substantial fundraising advantage and secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

The victory extends the Republican Party’s hold on the Florida governor’s office, which they have maintained for 28 years. Donalds selected Bryan Avila as his lieutenant governor. Avila is a former state senator who represented Miami.

Jolly stated in his concession remarks that the coalition he built could break through special interests and political vitriol. He emphasized that the emergence of this voting block represented a special moment for the state.